Social changes and research

How hard is it to bring social changes through research?

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an approach to research that aims to include the community to bring social changes. In this project, we used various methods to foster community participation. We recruited 10 adolescents to join our Youth Advisory Board and train them to conduct research, making them the decision-makers of so many aspects of the research, from data collection to knowledge translation. We used photovoice to collect data with 22 participants (15-24 years old), leaving lots of space for them to decide what stories they wanted to share. We sat with community leaders to discuss our approach and get some guidance and advice. We spent so much time just walking through the community, creating many opportunities for people to ask questions about what we were doing. 

I feel like this is as much community-based as it can get. And yet, I wonder: can we really bring any kind of social change?

It’s hard to bring changes, no matter the context. When research tackles complex issues that are rooted in deep social structures, it can be quite challenging. In this project, we are mostly focusing on child marriage from a critical perspective. We are trying to understand the structures of society that are fostering or preventing child marriage, looking both at youth structural vulnerabilities and agency. It’s complex. It’s deeply rooted in social norms and cultural beliefs. It’s a problem but also a resisting strategy. It’s a lot of love and a lot of violence at the same time. 

Our team of Youth Advisory Board members are surprising me. Over our last few meetings, they really grew into new people. Their dynamics is different, they are much more involved and they really got excited about data analysis – the most difficult and demanding part of the project. Last week, Ashik, one of the research assistant, and I shared a laugh while looking at them: they had changed. Our little group of shy, confused, and always very late adolescents were now loud, engaged, focused and… on time! Not only that, but they now always stay with us after our meetings, not rushing out of the door. Just hanging out with us, in this new safe space they created for themselves. 

I truly have the deepest respect for them, even in the days that are the most challenging, when they don’t feel like working and are very chaotic. They grew up in a community that didn’t value youth’s voices. How can we blame them for now not speaking up? It took time. A lot of patience. Now, they won’t stay quiet, they rush to voice their opinions, they are arguing about the most complex issues with a deep understanding of what is underlying. They impress me. Calling out patriarchy? Finding new ways to claim their rights? Recognizing their own value? Yes, yes, yes. 

Among our findings, our research highlighted a lack of social solidarity and support in the community, as well as a lack of safe space for youth. They don’t feel supported, they have no where safe to go, they don’t really belong anywhere. And all of a sudden, they belonged somewhere. They were part of something. They had a space to go to a few times a week, where they can be themselves and have fun and learn. They created new friendships, they learned new skills, they have a new understanding of their own community. It’s amazing to be part of their lives, even for a short time. 

So, maybe there won’t be big transformative social changes across the community. Child marriage won’t disappear because of our project. But changes exist. It is here, in our meeting room, every time we sit with them. We feel it, we see it. They said it themselves: « Maybe we won’t change things for us, but we can make it better for the next generation. »

Change is hard, but not impossible. I’m forever grateful for each of the youth who trusted me enough to join the team, and I’m forever changed too. 

Also they are planning me a surprise goodbye party, so it’s definitely all worth it.